Electric car charging stations are increasing in numbers across Australia, and across two major networks, the price per kWh has gone up.

Ampol’s AmpCharge network and the Evie EV charging network have bumped up their prices this month.

With AmpCharge chargers, which are rolling out at some Ampol service stations, charging now costs 69c per kWh (was 60c), as reported by The Driven.

Meanwhile, Evie’s 50kW charger prices have gone up to 45c per kWh (was 40c), as confirmed in an email sent to customers on February 7.

“This is the first price increase we have made since 2020 and is reflective of the increased cost of energy,” Evie said in the email.

“Our 350kW ultra-fast chargers will not change, remaining at 60c per kWh.”

It’s a shame to see these prices go up, but as said by Evie’s CEO when speaking to Gizmodo Australia, electricity tariffs for charging networks at the moment could use some work. Evie reflected this in its submission to the National Electric Vehicles Strategy.

If you’ve been curious about electric vehicle charging in Australia, we’ve got the answers to your questions below.

Every electric car charging station in Australia

Below you’ll find every electric car charger in Australia, condensed into one easy-to-use dynamic map, powered through Plugshare.com and Google Maps. This is a user-generated map that dots out all the charging stations in Australia, so if the map is missing a charger, you can go right ahead and add it in yourself. Plugshare’s community is made up of dedicated EV drivers and right now it’s one of the best resources on EV charging locations.

You’ll notice we haven’t put every electric car charging station in Australia into one big list. That’s because it would be an enormous list and, frankly, charging stations are currently in an awkward position in Australia where there are too many to list but not enough to generally say, “There’s one nearby”.

This will definitely change over the next decade, with companies like Ampol flicking on chargers, and especially with government support.

What are the different types of electric vehicle charging ports?

The below image is from Zap Map, detailing the differences between commonly available EV chargers.

In Australia, you’re most likely to come across CCS and Type 2 chargers, along with the CHAdeMO port type on some Japanese vehicles. It’s possible that you’ll come across other port types in Australia, although for the most part, this is what you’ll see.

Can any EV use any EV charging station?

As a general rule, as long as you’ve got a compatible port on your electric car, you should be able to get a charge from a public charging station. However, know that this can vary from charging station to charging station. At the moment in Australia, Tesla vehicles are able to use any Type 2 charging station, but non-Tesla EVs can only use select Tesla charging stations across Australia.

Where are electric car charging stations typically?

You’ll typically find an electric car charging station beside the road at a designated charging bay or in designated charging areas in car parks. You’ll also typically, as an electric car owner, have a charging cable at home.

In the future, it’s likely EV charging stations will operate somewhat like modern petrol stations, but we’re just not there yet. At the moment, most public EV chargers are comprised of two car parks and a single charging station.

Do electric car charging stations cost money?

It varies from station to station. Some EV charging stations will have you spend $10 for a single recharge, some charge by the kWh, whereas others have you pay for the time you use the station. Some are also free, but it’s unlikely to stay that way forever.

• Tesla superchargers cost 51c per kWh to charge with, although some locations charge per minute. Although destination chargers have long been free, you may have to pay to use them in the future. Additionally, at select charging locations with non-Tesla charging activated, non-Tesla customers need to pay 79c per kWh, or 66c per kWh with a membership.
• Evie chargers cost 60c per kWh when using a 350kW charger and 45c per kWh when using a 50kW charger. Pricing may differ depending on the station.
• NRMA chargers are free at the moment, however, they will cost non-members “within the next year”, as per NRMA group CEO Rohan Lund on The Driven podcast in August 2022.
• Jolt chargers cost between 50c and 60c per kWh depending on the charging station, although users get 7kWh free per day.
• The new Ampol EV chargers cost 69c per kWh.
• Chargefox EV chargers cost 60c per kWh, though RACV members save 20 per cent.

This is a snapshot of EV charging station costs from some of the larger networks, but you can find more on the Electric Vehicle Council website.

How do electric car charging stations work?

Once you’ve parked your EV at the station, you simply insert the provided plug (or your own provided plug, if necessary) into the charging port of your car and let it charge up.

It’ll usually make an engaging noise to notify you it’s working, and if you have to pay, you’ll typically have to do so before using the machine. Refer to the charging machine and follow the instructions as present.

Once you start to surpass higher battery percentages (such as 80 per cent and 90 per cent) the charging will get slower, but eventually, it will top up completely. It’s often recommended to not 100 per cent charge the battery of your EV to save battery life. It’s also recommended to be courteous of other EV drivers and not take too much time.

How long do EVs take to charge?

It depends on the power supplied and the technology of the electric car. Some chargers are able to provide faster charging speeds (such as 350kW) while some EVs are capable of receiving these faster speeds.

Chargers in the home can take dozens of hours (depending on how low your battery is and the charging speed provided), whereas established chargers available to the public can take between 30 minutes and several hours for a full charge. It’s an area where petrol cars have an obvious advantage, however, technology is improving over time.

As someone who has charged a lot of EVs in public, I’m usually charging the car for between 30 and 40 minutes, which gets the battery above 80 per cent, just to give you an idea.

EV manufacturers, such as Tesla and Polestar, often sell EV chargers on their websites, in case you’re after a faster charger or a backup.

We recommend using this EV charging calculator if you’re after a more precise estimate.

How far can an EV travel?

Electric cars vary greatly in terms of range. While the Nissan Leaf can travel about 270km without depleting its battery, the Tesla Model S can reach about 652km.

If you’re thinking of travelling over long distances, it’s best to know the limits of your car and the location of any electric car charging stations along the way.

This article has been updated since it was first published.